Another Viewpoint: Renewal levy is critical for W-E Schools

Another Viewpoint is a column The News-Herald makes available so all sides of issues may by aired. Catharine Beal lives in Willoughby.

I am honored to live and work in the Willoughby-Eastlake community. I graduated from W-E in 1980. My parents were responsible for the Little Red Schoolhouse project in 1976. I returned to this community to raise my four children, all of whom have attended the Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools. I am an employee, taxpayer, parent and most importantly a member of this community.

When I began teaching in this school district in 1985, supplies were plentiful. There was never a question as to whether or not we would receive items for our students. As years passed, and our school district became more frugal, the supplies and repairs dwindled.

The W-E staff willingly reaches into their own pockets so that their students do not "do without." We have been told by the current administration that the State of Ohio made cuts and that some of that would have to be absorbed by us. Since that time, all of the staff in this district, including our superintendent, have taken pay freezes, pay cuts, paid additional money for benefits and have purchased additional supplies for their students in order to keep things running smoothly. We willingly voted to work with the community to shoulder half of the burden. The staff members in this school district work tirelessly to see that your children receive an excellent education, have the supplies they need, and most importantly are safe during the time that you entrust your children to them.

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It has been stated by many that the school district should "tighten its belt," be "fiscally responsible" and "live in the community we take tax money from." I am aware that these same community members have reviewed the finances and contracts of the school district. Despite their reviews, they are unable to give any examples of where the belts should be tightened or where we are not fiscally responsible. The people who criticize our staff also fail to state that currently, 60 percent of the employees of this school district also live in and pay taxes in the community.

As I recently sat in a meeting, I was shocked and dismayed as it was stated that two of the people in that meeting "worked tirelessly to fail school levies." The speaker later told me that he did not care about the tax; he could afford to send his children to private schools. His words made me even more determined to work on behalf of the families who could not afford private schools, those who depend on our schools and a quality education.

I have had the privilege of working with (District Superintendent Steve) Thompson as a levy volunteer. I learned that because of House Bill 920, school levies were a fixed amount of money and that as expenses increase, the money from a school levy does not increase, thus the need to return to the ballot when cash reserves are depleted. I also learned that in 1997, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the funding model used in Ohio is unconstitutional. Since that time, the court continues to argue about how schools should respond to that ruling. Until a decision is made, schools have no choice other than to turn to the taxpayers for funding. Failed levies result in decreased funding to schools and services to children.

This renewal is critical to allow Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools to continue to support your children and your community. Its purpose is not for increases in spending but instead keeps the current funding the same. It does not increase taxes. I fully support this renewal levy.

My parents explained to me when I was very young that it was my responsibility as a community member to support the schools in my town. They explained that I would never be able to "pay it back" to the community members that had supported me, but I would be expected to "pay it forward."